University of Maryland, College Park

Pearl Diving Assignment 2

Ioannis Kokotsakis
Communication for Project Managers: ENCE614
Dr. Shana Webster-Trotman
October 21, 2023
Introduction

In this assignment, I will discuss the challenges of addressing team performance and how to
handle difficult conversations in the workplace. Additionally, by analyzing my personal story I
will be making associations with the readings and gaining some more in-depth conclusions about
my personality. Lastly, after completing the Big Five Personality assessment we will learn more
about our traits and compare these results with previous personality tests such as the JUNG
personality profile and the DISC assessment.

Email

Dear Team,

I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to discuss our recent performance as a team. We have
been under a lot of pressure lately and this has been negatively reflected in our results. To thrive,
we must identify the areas that need improvement. The lack of communication is the most
important issue that we face. Without clear and constructive communication, the situation will be
even worse in the future. Our team consists of valuable members that I truly believe in. Every
one of you is worthy of being here and I feel privileged to be part of this team. However, things
must change to achieve our objectives collectively. For this reason, I will be introducing two new
initiatives to enhance our team communication. Firstly, every morning I will organize team calls
where we will each have 5 minutes to go through our daily tasks and highlight any team
assistance. In this way, we will be able to voice our struggles or any need for assistance so that
we can collectively come together as a team and engage in efficient teamwork. Secondly, I can
also put aside a 15–20-minute time slot for each one of you every week where we can discuss
your concerns about the workload, team dynamic, or any other personal concerns you may have.
I strongly believe that offering a safer space both on a personal and team level will help us
overcome our communication struggles. During my graduate years at the University of
Maryland, I initially understood the importance of communication and this continued in my first
steps as a professional. The reason I am introducing the above initiatives is because we have to
establish communication channels among ourselves so we can meet our targets on time and with
a clear understanding. It is very logical to face many obstacles daily but we should concentrate
on our primary objective. This is why I insist on having clear communication so we can deal
with these problems early. I truly understand that our team is under a lot of emotional stress, not
only in our jobs but also in our private lives. I sincerely believe that by widening our
communication as a team and finding ways to support each other, we will pave our road to
success. Finally, we’re at a point where we can change how we work for the better. I’m confident
that if we work all together and understand each other, we can handle any problem that comes
up.

Sincerely,
Ioannis Kokotsakis
Scenario
In handling a challenging circumstance where my superior has publicly called me an “idiot”, I
will use the techniques from “Crucial Conversations” to approach this delicate matter (Patterson
et al, 2012). First, I have to admit that if this happened my first feelings would be awkwardness
and embarrassment. But I would try to stay calm and think before I do anything following the
techniques of the book. In the beginning, as Patterson et al. suggest, it’s essential to “Start with
Heart” (Patterson et al, 2012, 36). I would ask myself, “What do I want from this situation?
What is best for our working relationship?” (Ibid, 40). These questions would help me stay
focused and avoid reacting defensively. My next step would be from “Learn to Look” (Ibid, 52).
Knowing that being called out in front of others will upset me, I would be very careful about
how I feel and respond. My boss's reaction to calling me an “idiot” in front of the entire team is a
sign that he is “feeling unsafe” for a reason (Ibid, 57). By the time this happens, the conversation
immediately becomes crucial. The next step would be to “Make it Safe” (Ibid, 73). From my
boss's reaction, I can identify the fact that there isn't mutual respect since he called me an “idiot”,
disrespecting me publicly (Ibid, 79). This evokes mutual feelings in me. However, since they are
my boss, I have to address the matter accordingly. I tried to put myself in their shoes and
“empathize with them” believing that it was a moment of weakness (Ibid, 80).
Furthermore, I would choose a private setting so I can make my boss realize that I intend to
understand and improve our communication, not blame or accuse them. When addressing the
comment, I would use the “Master My Stories” technique, which emphasizes the importance of
distinguishing between facts and our interpretation of those events (Ibid, 103). For example,
instead of thinking they meant harm, I would ask, “During the meeting, you referred to me as an
‘idiot’. Can we discuss what led to that comment?”. This approach separates what happened
from what I thought they meant (Ibid, 114). By using these techniques, we can turn a tough
situation into a valuable experience that will teach us the importance of stronger professional
relations.
Choosing this course of action is based on the principles of effective communication. It
prioritizes understanding over conflicts. By asking “Why?” I give the other person a chance to
explain their perspective, which can often reveal issues or misunderstandings that led to the
comment. In addition, it prevents the situation from getting worse and helps us find a solution.
This method also shows maturity and professionalism by solving problems calmly instead of
reacting emotionally.
Personal Story
The story that I would like to share is about my time before I got admitted to the National
Technical University of Athens where I completed my undergraduate studies as a civil
engineer. I never was a very diligent student but I considered myself as an intelligent person
who overcame academic difficulties on instinct. However, this wasn’t enough to pursue a
career as a civil engineer and most importantly to be admitted to a well-known and
demanding university. During my school years, I was more into having fun and spending
time with friends who came from wealthy families and had secured their future than
concentrating on the studies that would provide me with the right tools to achieve my goals.
One evening, after meeting with my school teachers, my parents returned home deeply
disappointed. They sat me down for a conversation, and their message was clear. Our family
didn’t have the luxury of progressing without any effort. I had to work hard to secure a good
future. My father’s questions were straightforward: If our family faced financial challenges,
what would my role be? What future was I building for myself? That day was a turning point
for me. Not just because my parents were upset, but because I wanted more for myself. My
teachers didn’t think I could do well, and my parents were worried I was too far behind in my
studies. This made me want to prove them wrong. My goal was to get into the National
University of Athens and become a civil engineer. I changed everything in my life. I left
behind friends who weren’t good for me and spent all my time studying. In the beginning, it
was really hard, but I gradually started to get better. People began to notice the change. The
teachers who doubted me now saw my determination. My parents who were so worried had
hope in them. When the exam days came, I felt prepared. I wasn’t scared or anxious. I was
ready to deliver excellence. The day I received my acceptance letter from the university was
one of the proudest moments of my life. Not only did I show everyone that they were wrong
about me, but I also proved to myself that with dedication and hard work, I could achieve
anything.
Big Five Personality Assessment

Upon completing the Big Five Personality Assessment, which evaluates individuals on five
aspects (Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism) I felt the
results were very close to my personality. My scores were as follows: Openness at 65%,
Conscientiousness at 58%, Extraversion at 52%, Agreeableness at 44%, and Neuroticism at 85%.
In my previous essay, I talked about the JUNG and DISC personal assessments. In this one, I will
try to discuss the Big Five personality assessment and how I felt about it. Also, I will try to
compare it to the other assessments to find any similarities.

To begin with, the first trait of the Big Five Personality assessment that I would like to talk about
is Openness, in which I scored 65%. I will have to agree with this score because indeed I
consider myself an open person. I always try to share my feelings with others especially when I
am in difficult situations. The need for support comes from being open. When things don’t go as
planned or if I am facing challenges, I need to discuss my feelings. These people are mainly my
girlfriend who is very supportive and my best friends who have been by my side since I was a
little child. I don’t always open up to my parents. It’s not that I want to hide things from them,
but sometimes I feel their reaction might not be what I need at that moment. They might worry
too much or see things differently. I value greatly their advice but there are situations where I
prefer the opinion of my friends. Being open has helped build close connections with others.
When I share with people, they often feel comfortable sharing with me too.

The second trait that I would like to speak of is Conscientiousness, of which I scored 58%. I have
to say that I am neutral on this score because it is not too high but at the same time it is not low. I
think of myself as a diligent student who tries to address tasks and responsibilities carefully and
organized. Coming back to the story that I shared above, it is indeed true that I wasn’t a very
diligent student during my school years, but I think I have changed a lot since then. I have
achieved some things in my life such as being admitted to the National Technical University of
Athens that required someone to be hard working and diligent. This score doesn’t surprise me
much. I know I am not the perfect student, but I always aim to become a better version of myself.

The third trait that I would like to talk about is Extraversion, in which I scored 52%. Upon
looking at the result initially, I strongly disagreed with the score that I was given because I
consider myself very social. Back in my home country, I have many friends that I enjoy spending
time with, and often hang out and have fun. There are times when I’m with my friends more than
with my family. This sometimes makes me think “I’m very social”. Upon some introspection,
however, I must admit that I am extroverted to my friends alone and perhaps not so much with
new people. It might be something to take away from this test, to try and become more
extroverted towards new people outside of my friend circle. There are some occasions when the
fear of missing out on fun distracts me from my work. This is something I need to be careful
about and try to avoid it. Finally, I understand why my extraverted score is in the middle as I
have some introverted aspects.

The fourth feature that I would like to share with you is Agreeableness, which I scored 44%. I
agree with this score for the reason that I am not the most agreeable person in the world. I
consider myself a stubborn person who often disagrees with others. Many times, I insist on my
view even if it is wrong. This leads to frequent disagreements, especially with those close to me.
A simple example is soccer. Even though I know soccer isn't a serious reason to argue with
someone, it surprisingly becomes one for us. In my home country, soccer club rivalries are
intense. Many of my friends support the rival team, and we often argue about which team is
better. These disagreements sometimes prevent us from having a good conversation. This aspect
of my personality needs improvement because the only thing it has brought me is conflict and
frustration. I will try to be more open-minded because stubbornness isn't the solution. I hope that
being more understanding in the future will lead to better outcomes, even if I don’t always agree.

The last trait that I would like to discuss is Neuroticism, in which I scored the highest among all
features. I completely agree with this score. Unfortunately, I am a very emotional person and this
has led me to many challenges in life. To be more precise, stress is my biggest opponent. Stress
has many forms in my life such as the pressure from academic responsibilities like assignments
and exams, my family concerns especially now that I’m away constantly hoping they remain safe
and healthy, and my worthiness, questioning if I truly deserve to be in the position, I find myself
in. This constant stress guides me towards negative outcomes, leading to frequent feelings of
sadness and anger. Even in situations where everything is alright, I still find a way to feel down.
This tendency to view situations pessimistically often overlooks the positive aspects of my life.
However, being away from home has allowed me to overcome this obstacle. I have made a
promise to myself to think positively and avoid these harmful thoughts. This is a challenge that I
can address alone and I am fully committed to doing so. My goal is to reduce this percentage to
its minimum, to overcome these overwhelming emotions, and to find a way to harness these
feelings instead of dominating me.

In general, I have to say that overall, I wasn’t surprised with the results. I tried to answer the Big
Five assessment truthfully. Seeing a high score in Neuroticism made me worried. I realized how
this can affect my life in every way. This realization showed me the need to work on staying
calm and handling things better, hopefully, by doing that it can help me become a better person.

Comparing the Big Five assessment with the JUNG assessment, I noticed some things that were
similar and some things that were different. My high score in Openness on the Big Five
assessment aligns with the iNtuitive part of my ENFJ profile, suggesting I have an interest in
new ideas and often think about the future. My score in Extraversion in the Big Five was 52%,
which I didn’t agree with, and in the JUNG assessment, I was described as an ‘Extravert’. This
means I am outgoing and enjoy being around people. Furthermore, the JUNG assessment
characterized me as a ‘Feeler’ and ‘Judger’. This means I let my emotions guide me and prefer
things to be structured. This matches the Big Five assessment, where my Agreeableness score
wasn’t too high, showing that I care for others but also stand on my views. On the other hand,
there were also some differences. For example, my high Neuroticism score in the Big Five shows
that I experience negative emotions or get stressed. The JUNG assessment focused more on how
I interact with others, make decisions, and how I bring energy and enthusiasm to tasks. Both
assessments gave me a lot to think about, and it was interesting to see how different tests see
different sides of me.

The second comparison I would like to make is between the Big Five assessment and the DISC
assessment. Starting with Dominance from the DISC assessment, my score was high at 39%.
This suggests that I tend to assert myself and control situations. This somehow aligns with the
Extraversion trait from the Big Five assessment, where I scored 52%. Both scores indicate that I
am comfortable in taking charge and expressing myself, especially in social situations. My
Influence score on the DISC assessment was 26%, showing that I might be assertive but not
outgoing in personal relationships. This matches with the Extraversion score from the Big Five
where I was not particularly high. The Steadiness score from the DISC was 28%. This means I
am somewhat patient, persistent, and thoughtful. It can be compared with the Agreeableness and
Neuroticism parts of the Big Five assessment. I scored high in Neuroticism, which means I might
get stressed or upset easily. My Agreeableness score was a bit low, showing that sometimes I
work well with others and other times I don’t. So, the Steadiness score from the DISC
assessment shows I am in the middle when it comes to being easygoing and hard. Lastly, the
Compliance score in the DISC assessment was the lowest at 7%, indicating that I am not always
diligent or follow rules. This can be related to the Conscientiousness trait from the Big Five
assessment, where my score was 58%. Both scores show that I like to be organized and
responsible. But sometimes, I might do things my way or think differently. In summary, both
assessments gave me different but helpful views about my personality. The Big Five talks about
my feelings and how I usually act, while the DISC tells me how I behave in certain situations.
These tests have helped me see what I am good at and where I can improve.

I have to admit that I never had taken a personal assessment test in my life before. It was a
unique experience for me and I believe that I benefited from this. I know myself but there are
some aspects in my life that I avoided addressing for many reasons. Through these assessments
from the previous assignment and this one, I learned things about my personality that I wasn’t
aware of. This has given me the motivation to enhance my personality and develop traits I didn’t
have. At the same time, I saw things that need to be addressed so I can thrive not only as a
student and at some point, a professional but also as a human being. Some of the results didn’t
match what I thought of myself, making me believe I should have scored better. But some results
were spot on and described me. To get accurate results from these tests, we need to answer
honestly and think about how we see ourselves. I have promised myself to always work on being
better and fix things I need to improve. I try to remind myself of this promise often.

Conclusion

All in all, in this assignment we looked into how we can improve team performance through
clear communication and dealing with difficult situations in our working environment through
essential communication techniques. We have also seen the power of personal stories, illustrating
how we have faced and overcome adversity. Furthermore, by analyzing the Big Five personality
test results, we have gained a better understanding of our traits and compared them with previous
personal assessments. These lessons are valuable, providing us with tools and insights for
personal growth and enhancing our future professional interactions.
 Work Cited

Patterson Kerry, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler. Crucial Conversations.

Mc Grawn Hill, 2012. Print.

Galo, Carmine. Five stars the Communication Secrets to Get from Good to Great.

Press, 2018. Print

The Big Five Personality Test. Truity. (2023, October 4). https://www.truity.com/test/big-five-
personality-test